This month’s blog will present perhaps the most challenging apostle of the Twelve, Judas Iscariot. I will begin with introductory key verses, followed by a few notes on the life of Judas, thoughts on teaching the tough topic of suicide, and, finally, list some teaching points.
Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray [Jesus] to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray Him.
While He was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss Him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
While I was with [My disciples], I kept them in Your name, which You have given Me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Judas certainly struggled with sin, and it seems that we learn more of Judas’s transgressions than those of any other disciple. We remember Jesus’ dinner with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus when Mary “took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair” (John 12:3). Judas is indignant because he valued the money for himself, not out of concern for the poor. Judas also made arrangements with Jesus’ enemies and was paid to assist in His arrest. Finally, he led soldiers to the Garden of Gethsemane and facilitated Jesus’ eventual execution under the guise of a kiss, an expression of love and trust.
No doubt these are wicked sins. At the same time, it’s important that students understand that any and all sins will condemn us without saving faith in Jesus Christ. While we don’t minimize Judas’s sins, we take care not to compare his failures to our own.
Suicide is a challenging topic and may be best suited for older students. It may also be advisable to make parents aware that you will be addressing this aspect of Judas’s life, especially with younger students.
Did Judas go to heaven or hell? There are two key verses which certainly suggest the latter. Jesus says in Matthew 26:24, “Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Our Savior also says in John chapter 17 regarding the apostles, “Not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”
While suicide is a sin (since our lives belong to God and are therefore not ours to take), we remember that those who take their own lives have not necessarily rejected salvation in Jesus. We understand, for example, that those who struggle with mental illness, times of intense grief or stress, or drug and alcohol addiction may act out of character. In other words, one that commits suicide may do so still trusting in Christ for forgiveness.
Along with this, consider the following teaching points.
Only lack of faith condemns.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18)
Scripture: ESV®.
Looking for more posts on teaching the twelve Apostles? Browse Pastor Rigdon's other posts at the link below.